Rep. Stephanie McClintock: These policies would help Washington students succeed
As a parent, former school board member, and legislator, I have always supported education, as it is one of the backbones of a strong community. Supporting our schools is one of the most important investments we can make as a state, as it supports our workforce, our families, and our future. I want to see every child find their purpose, and I have seen firsthand how access to a quality education can change the trajectory of a child’s life.
In 2024, I introduced legislation to improve students’ educational success by restricting mobile device use in public schools. This bill had strong support from legislators on both sides of the aisle, but failed to make it to the governor’s desk.
Last year, I reintroduced this bill (House Bill 1122), but despite even more support, it never received a hearing in the House Education Committee. It’s no secret that Washington students aren’t getting the education they deserve, and mobile device use in our public schools isn’t helping. It has become a chronic issue, and our kids are suffering because of it.
We want to eliminate the distraction these devices create during class time to improve learning outcomes. Many school districts in Washington, including Battle Ground, have already implemented policies restricting cell phone use during school hours, which is a great step forward. However, we need to ensure ALL school districts have a policy in place, so ALL students can succeed.
I am still waiting for this legislation to have another hearing and make it out of the House. There are numerous studies across the country indicating that both students and teachers have benefited from cell phone restrictions during school hours. It’s time for Washington to ensure every student has the best learning environment so they can achieve their greatest success.
I also introduced House Bill 1289 last session. This legislation would require the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to create a voluntary online survey for parents or guardians to fill out when transferring or withdrawing a student from a public school. The Education Committee approved the bill, but it was never brought to the House floor. HB 1289 was brought back for consideration this year and was on the floor calendar but has has been sent back to the Finance Committee and is unlikely to be voted on by the entire House.
Enrollment in Washington public schools has decreased for several years, including this year by about 9,000 students compared to the 2024-25 school year. Overall, statewide public-school enrollment is down by about 50,000 students compared to the fall of 2019. This legislation would help us determine why. Unless we know why they are leaving, we won’t know how to improve. Based on those results, we can create policies that better meet the needs of our students and parents.
The good news is that this bill has been brought up for consideration again this session and could reach the floor. This is a common-sense policy that would help Washington public schools improve, in turn helping students achieve greater success.
Lastly, I have introduced legislation this year that would update state education law by replacing outdated references to “alternative learning experiences” with the updated terms “remote and hybrid learning.” House Bill 2142 would reflect the changes in how education is delivered outside traditional classrooms and ensure the legal language matches current practices.
I learned from a retired alternative learning experience principal that calling remote or hybrid students “alternative” can unintentionally suggest they are outside the norm. This change would normalize these learning models, reinforcing that remote and hybrid education are legitimate parts of public education, and not second-tier options.
Washington kids deserve the best educational experience possible. While there are countless things we can do to improve their learning opportunities and outcomes, these policies provide three simple ways we can truly get behind education in our state and show our kids we really do want them to succeed.
Rep. Stephanie McClintock, R-Vancouver, represents Washington’s 18th Legislative District.
As printed in The Columbian and posted on Columbian.com.
